A History of Oregon, 1792-1849

But we have kept our readers too long from the proceedings of our little army, under the command of Captain H. A. G. Lee, which we left on its way to the Dalles, to save that station from falling into the hands of the Indians.

CHAPTER LXII

The Cayuse war. – Letter of Captain Lee. – Indians friendly with the Hudson’s Bay Company. – Conduct of Mr. Ogden. – His letters to Mr. Walker and Mr. Spalding. – Note of Rev. G. H. Atkinson. – Sir James Douglas’s letter to Governor Abernethy. – A rumor. – The governor’s reply. – Another letter from Sir James. – Mr. Ogden. – Extraordinary presents to the Indians of arms and ammunition. – Colonel Gilliam’s campaign. – Indian fight. – Property captured. – The Des Chutes Indians make peace. – Captain McKay’s company of British subjects join the army. – A nuisance. – “Veritas.” – Nicholas Finlay gives the signal for battle. – Running fight. – Captain McKay’s company. – Council held by the peace commissioners with the Indians. – Governor Abernethy’s address. – Speeches of the Indians Camaspelo, Joseph, Jacob, Old James, Red Wolf, Timothy, Richard, and Kentuck. – Letters of Joel Palmer, R. Newell, James Douglas, and William McBean. – Who is responsible for the Cayuse war?

If the reader has carefully perused the foregoing pages, he will be able to understand the movements of our little army in the Cayuse war, as to the prime cause of which, the development of twenty-five years, and the monstrous claims of the Hudson’s Bay Company, have relieved our present history from all mystery and doubt, and have enabled us to arrange and combine the facts, without fear of a truthful contradiction. Major H. A. G. Lee, in a letter dated at Wascopum, December 26, 1847, writes: —

To Governor Abernethy:

“Sir, – I reached this place on the evening of the 21st instant, with ten men, including Mr. Hinman, whom I met on his way to Wallamet at Wind River Mountain, thirty miles below. The boats being windbound, and hearing from Mr. Hinman that a party of the Cayuses and river Indians had been down and driven off some horses from the mission, and that he had left with his family soon after, thinking it unsafe to remain longer, I was induced to lead the few men that were with me (for we had been separated by the wind and could not get together), and press to this place by land with all dispatch, to save the houses from destruction; and I am very happy to inform you that we arrived just in time, and that all is now safe. The natives immediately about this place are friendly, and hailed our arrival with much joy. Seletsa professes friendship, but I shall keep an eye on him; his men have been killing cattle, and I suspect with his consent, though he promises to make them pay for them. We have been collecting the cattle and placing them below, in order to stop the slaughtering that has been carried on above. We have not yet learned the amount of mischief done at this place, but are getting things under way quite as well as I could have anticipated. Mr. Hinman has been of great service to me here; he leaves to-day to join his family, whom he left on the river.

“We have no intelligence from Wailatpu, except Indian report, which, if we may credit, is awful enough. It is said, after the murder of the whites at the place, a general council had been held, and that the Nez Percés were present by special invitation, i. e., the chiefs; that it was determined to make ‘a clean sweep’ of all the Bostons, including Messrs. Spalding, Eells, and Walker above, and Hinman here; that they had, in execution of that resolution, returned and murdered all the women and children who had been spared in the first place, with the exception of three females who had been reserved for wives. Remember this is but native news. I must refer you to Mr. Hinman for many other items which I dare not write.

“From all I can gather, the country east of the river Des Chutes is all an enemy’s country, and our movements should be directed accordingly. Can you have us two or three small guns cast at the foundery? Each one would be equal in effect to fifty men. I am satisfied that the enemy is going to be much more formidable against an invading force than many in Wallamet are willing to believe. The Indians are all friendly with the Hudson’s Bay Company’s men, and I am truly sorry to learn that Mr. Ogden paid them powder and ball for making the portage at the Dalles. I hope this will be stopped, and their supplies of ammunition immediately cut off. Please take some measures to effect this without delay.

“Mr. Rogers and Mr. Savage return immediately from this place, feeling that the object for which they enlisted has been accomplished; and as they would have to return, according to promise, in the course of ten or twelve days, and there being no active employment for them, they are permitted to return now. You are aware that they are among my best men, and for their persevering energy, so far, they deserve the praise due to good soldiers, although they have not had the pleasure of a fight. They are therefore honorably discharged from service in the 1st company of Oregon riflemen.

“Sergeant McMellen will bear this to you and return to me as soon as possible. If he gets down in time to accompany the next party, he will be of much service to them on the river; he has few equals in the service.

“While writing the above, one horse which had been stolen from the immigrants has been brought in, and others reported on the way. I think most of the property stolen near this place will be returned; that above Des Chutes will probably be contended for. The Indians about this place are evidently terrified, and I shall avail myself of that fact, as far as possible, in furthering the object of our trip. I have no fears of an attack on this place, yet I shall be as vigilant as though an attack were certain. The boats which were windbound eight days arrived this morning all safe and well.

“I remain, your most obedient humble servant,

“H. A. G. Lee.”

With the light that twenty-two years have shed upon the early history of Oregon, how shall we regard the policy and practice of the professedly kind and generous chief factors of the Hudson’s Bay Company? The one, Sir James Douglas, attempting to deceive the American settlement and the world as to the real danger of the settlement and the cause of the massacre; the other, Mr. Ogden, supplying the Indians on his route, and at Wallawalla, with ammunition, and “insisting,” while bargaining with the murderers for their captives, “upon the distinction necessary to be made between the affairs of the company and those of the Americans.”

We undertook, in our third position, to show the influences of this Hudson’s Bay Company, as well as Romanism, upon our early settlements, and the causes of the Indian wars. These were backed by one of the most powerful nations then on the globe, while a handful of American pioneers found themselves involved in a savage war. The Indians were advised, aided, and urged on by the teachings of Roman priests and this Hudson’s Bay Company, sustained by the British government, with assistance pledged to them by Bishop Blanchet and Chief-Factor Ogden, as he received the captives from their hands, and gave them more ammunition and guns than had ever before been given to them at any one time. He says, in a letter dated Fort Nez Percés, December 31, 1847, addressed to Rev. E. Walker, at Cimakain:

“I have been enabled to effect my object without compromising myself or others, and it now remains with the American government to take what measures they deem most beneficial to restore tranquillity to this part of the country, and this, I apprehend, can not be finally effected without blood being made to flow freely. So as not to compromise either party, I have made a heavy sacrifice of goods; but these, indeed, are of trifling value, compared to the unfortunate beings I have rescued from the hands of the murderous wretches, and I feel truly happy. Let this suffice for the present.

“On my arrival at the Dalles, Mr. Hinman’s mission, the previous day, had been plundered of four horses in open day, and in presence of all the inmates of the mission; and on consulting me on the propriety of remaining or removing under the present distracted state of the country, I advised him to move, leaving a trusty Indian, on whom he could rely, and who speaks the English language, to remain in charge of the establishment; and he would have started the same day I left it. I trust this arrangement will meet with your approbation; under existing circumstances, could not consistently give any other.”

“Yours truly,

“P. S. Ogden.”19

With such powerful combinations, and such experienced, wise, and reverend advisers, it is not surprising that those Indians should feel themselves able to make, as Captain Lee says, “a clean sweep of all the Bostons in the country.” Mr. Ogden, in his letter to Mr. Walker, does not intimate that the provisional government will presume to attempt to seek any redress for the murders committed; but consoles himself with the “happy” thought that the difficulty is to be settled by the United States. Mr. Hinman he advises to leave, and to Mr. Spalding he sends the following letter: —

“Fort Nez Percés, December 23, 1847.

“Rev. H. H. Spalding:

“Dear Sir, – I have assembled all the chiefs and addressed them in regard to the helpless situation of yourself and the rest at Wailatpu, and I have got them to consent to deliver them all to me: yourself and those with you, save the two Canadians, who are safe enough among the Indians; and have now to advise you to lose no time in joining me. At the same time, bear in mind, sir, you have no promises to make them, or payments to make. Once more, use all the diligence possible to overtake us.

“Yours truly,

“P. S. Ogden.”

We place a note of Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D. D., in this connection, to show the influences that have for a series of years been operating, and how careful that unscrupulous monopoly was to combine its influences, and to deal out its hospitalities, to secure a good word from a reverend Protestant divine, who was connected with the United States Home Missionary Board, whose character is unimpeachable, and to whom it refers for evidence of its generosity. We are not surprised to find Doctor Atkinson attempting to ease the weight of censure due to that overgrown monopoly, from the fact, that on his first arrival in the country (after the Cayuse war), on one of the company’s ships, unusual attention and kindness were evidently shown to him and his family by the company’s agents, to gain his favorable representations of their proceedings, and a name for honorable dealing and generous treatment of missionaries, as intimated in his note. Doctor Atkinson says: —

“The agents of the Hudson’s Bay Company in Oregon furnished all the missionaries with supplies at the usual trade rates until they could supply themselves from home.”

In this the doctor is mistaken, as we have shown in previous pages. He continues: —

“After the death of Mr. Whitman and family, Mr. Ogden, an agent of the company, brought the rest of the mission and the American families to the Wallamet Valley, at considerable risk and sacrifice to himself. The guilt of the plot to massacre Dr. Whitman and other Americans is understood to belong to the Jesuits.”

The letters above quoted, from Mr. Ogden and Captain Lee, show the doctor’s great mistake in this statement. Mr. Ogden ran no risk, and made no sacrifice, as the Hudson’s Bay Company presented their bills, and have been paid every dollar they had the impudence to demand of our government, for transporting the captive women and children to a place of safety, and for all the supplies they so reluctantly furnished to our provisional troops. We do not believe it is good morals, or divinity, to say nothing of politics, to praise, encourage, or warm the serpent that improves every opportunity to sting us with his poisonous fangs. That company has enjoyed the monopoly of this vast country, and prevented its settlement too long, for any one to seek its praise or favor.

We have another letter from Sir James Douglas, which shows us more clearly the exact position of that monster monopoly. It is as follows: —

“Fort Vancouver, Dec. 31, 1847.

“To Governor George Abernethy, Esq.:

“Sir, – A rumor having been in circulation, for some days past, that it is General Gilliam’s intention to levy contributions on the Hudson’s Bay Company’s property, for the purpose of completing the equipment of the troops ordered out in your late proclamation, for the intended operations against the Indians, I feel it my duty to communicate with you frankly on the subject, as it is most important, in the present critical state of our Indian relations, that there should be an entire absence of distrust, and that the most perfect unanimity should exist among the whites of every class. From my personal knowledge of General Gilliam, and his highly respectable character, I should be the last person to believe him capable of committing an outrage which may prove so disastrous in the immediate and remoter consequences to the peace and best interests of this country; at the same time, as the representative of a powerful British association, it becomes my duty to take instant measures for the protection of their property, until I receive, through you, a distinct disavowal of any such intention as herein stated. Difficulties of that nature were certainly not contemplated by us when we dispatched a large part of our effective force into the interior for the purpose of receiving the unfortunate women and children, the survivors of the massacre at Wailatpu, who remained in the hands of the Indians. It was never supposed that our establishment would be exposed to insult or injury from American citizens, while we are braving the fury of the Indians for their protection.”

What a powerful and noble company, and how much “fury of the Indians” they had to contend with, when they were handing them guns and ammunition by the quantity; and all their servants and posts were unharmed by either whites or Indians, during all the Indian wars that have occurred on this coast. This letter continues: —

“Such a proceeding would, in fact, be so inconsistent with every principle of honor and sound policy, that I can not believe any attempt of the kind will be made; but I trust this explanation will satisfactorily account for any unusual precaution observed in the present arrangement of this establishment.

“Trusting that this note will be noticed at your earliest convenience, I have the honor to be, sir,

“Your most obedient, humble servant,

“James Douglas, C. F., H. B. Co.”

Mr. Douglas, in this letter, has suddenly assumed a very honorable, as well as powerful position. As to his personal bravery, there is no question; but as to truth, there is. He says, “I can not believe any attempt of the kind will be made,” and then tells us not to be alarmed; or, at least, as the “rumor having been in circulation,” we must excuse him for his “unusual precaution” in his establishment, while he has deceived, and intends to continue to deceive, the governor and the settlers as to his real motives of caution, and the deep-laid schemes that he and his “powerful British association” are bringing about, not against the “fury of the Indians,” but against the American settlements.

As was to be expected in those times, our governor and General Gilliam wilted right down, and the governor wrote: —

“Oregon City, January 3, 1848.

“Sir, – I received your favor of 31st ultimo yesterday evening, and, in answering it, would thank you for your frankness in communicating with me on the subject. Having had conversation with Colonel Gilliam on this subject, I can state that he has no intention of levying contributions on the Hudson’s Bay Company’s property for any purpose whatever. He will probably cross the Columbia River at the mouth of Sandy.”

This was the information that Mr. Douglas wished to obtain, as we have since learned from one of the company’s clerks, and also the extent of information received from Mr. Lee by his express.

“I trust nothing will occur that will in any way cause distrust among the whites during this crisis. The reports from above lead to the conclusion that Messrs. Spalding, Walker, and Eells have been cut off, and the women and children, spared in the first place, have since been murdered. Should these rumors prove true, we know that peace can not be restored between the Indians and whites without bloodshed.”

As near as we can learn, Governor Abernethy was disposed to follow the counsels of a writer in the Spectator, signed “Veritas,” which was, to wait till spring opened, and then make a decent demonstration in the summer to punish the murderers. The energy of the people overruled his tender spirit, to use no harsher term, and pushed their forces up in the winter, which allowed most of the men to return in time to secure the following harvest, and produced the desired effect upon the Hudson’s Bay Company and the Indians. The governor says: —

“Captain Lee informs me that Mr. Ogden paid the Indians powder and ball for making the portage. The Legislature passed an act during their last session prohibiting the sale of powder, lead, caps, etc., to Indians. I trust you will see the necessity of complying with this act; it will be published in the next Spectator.

“I trust the disavowal in this letter will prove satisfactory to you. I have the honor to remain, sir,

“Your obedient servant,

“George Abernethy.”

The next day, the 4th of January, Mr. Douglas returned a long letter, which is as follows: —

“Fort Vancouver, January 4, 1848.

“George Abernethy, Esq.:

“Sir, – I have to acknowledge yours of yesterday’s date, and consider it perfectly satisfactory. I place little confidence in the late reports from the Dalles, and entertain sanguine hopes that they will prove unfounded.

“The Indians have been always paid with ammunition and tobacco by our traveling parties, for passing boats at the portages of this river, and I can not see that Mr. Ogden had any reason to depart from the established practice on the occasion mentioned in your letter, as these Indians have no fellow-feelings with the Cayuses.”

This statement of Sir James is notoriously untrue; the Cayuses have always had more or less trade with the Dalles Indians, in dried salmon, horses, etc., and have always been the superiors, and treated them as they pleased. Mr. Douglas has invariably cautioned us, in passing those portages, not to give ammunition, as it was against the rules of the company to do so, except to a very few, and in small quantities, and that for packing goods by trusty Indians. This sudden change from tobacco to powder is only a part of the policy now being executed.

“These Indians behaved in the most friendly manner, and, I am convinced, will not enter into any combination against the whites, unless there be great mismanagement on our part.

“In fact, when we consider the object of Mr. Ogden’s journey to Wallawalla [which we consider really to have been to inform the Indians, as he did, that the Hudson’s Bay Company would take no part in this quarrel between the Indians and Americans, and that the company would supply them with ammunition and aid them in the present war, we are not disposed to question but that the lives of some of the men that were left would have been taken, but we doubt if any more women would have been killed, unless the company had consented to it; but it answered for a plausible argument for Sir James, who says], and that the lives of sixty or seventy fellow-creatures were, under Providence, mainly dependent on the celerity of his movements, it can not be supposed he would allow any minor consideration to weigh one moment in his mind against the great object of their preservation. As he could not carry his boats over the portages of the falls without the assistance of the Indians, it would have been an act of great indiscretion on his part to have excited alarm and created suspicion in their minds.”

Doctor Saffron, in answer to the interrogatory, “In what way did you become acquainted with the Whitman massacre?” makes the following reply: “I was residing at the Dalles mission when the Canadian, bearing an express from Fort Nez Percés to Vancouver, came to the station and ate dinner, and with whom Mr. Hinman went to the lodge, and secured a canoe to assist him on his way to Vancouver, and went to Vancouver with him. A very short time after they were off, – I did not think they had scarcely got off before the Indians came from the lodges, and told what they said the Frenchman had told them, that Doctor Whitman was killed. The next information was from an Indian lad from Des Chutes, who came on horseback, in great haste, and said that two Cayuses were at Des Chutes, and had told them that Dr. Whitman, his wife, and all his people were killed, except the women, who had been taken for wives for the chiefs. In giving the causes which the two Cayuses had given them, he spoke of the sickness, and also that the priests had made known to them that the Doctor was a dangerous medicine man to have among them, and said something of their having said about the Doctor’s medicines being the cause of their dying; and also of what Mr. McBean had said of Dr. Whitman’s determining to have all their spotted horses. I can be certain as to the priests’ part, but not so certain as to McBean’s part, being said by the young Indian at that time, or told me afterward by other Indians.” Dr. Saffron states in this deposition that the Indians were very threatening about the station, and that he thinks the reason they did not commence the massacre of all at the station was the report that Mr. Ogden was just below with a party. “On Mr. Ogden’s arrival, we stated to him these things, and he informed Mr. Hinman that we had better get away as soon as possible, which we did.”

In this letter from Mr. Douglas, in answer to Governor Abernethy, about supplying the Indians with powder, etc., he says: —

“It would have been an act of great indiscretion on his part to have excited alarm and caused suspicion in their minds by withholding the compensation of two or three pounds of gunpowder and lead, which they had been accustomed to receive for such service, when it was certain that the omission would be regarded as evidence of a hostile intent, and induce them to put every possible obstacle in his way, whereby the object of the journey must have been entirely defeated, and the unfortunate women and children left to their cruel fate.

“To prohibit the sale of ammunition within certain districts in arms against the whites would be the proper course; but to extend the measure to every part of the country is to make the innocent suffer with the guilty, and a departure from the conciliatory course of policy which we have always found to answer best with Indians; and will, I much fear, drive them to the most desperate course. I am now only expressing an opinion on what the law is reported to be, and await the next issue of the Spectator with some impatience, to discover its real character and value.

“You may rest assured that we will do nothing improper, or which will, in any way, endanger the safety of the country.

“We have not yet heard from Mr. Ogden since he left the Dalles, but are now daily expecting to hear from him.

“I have the honor to be, sir

“Your most obedient servant,

“James Douglas.”

The careless reader, or one that is disposed to regard Sir James Douglas as an honorable, truthful, and upright man, will, on first reading this letter, in all probability, consider it a satisfactory reply to Governor Abernethy, and his reasons sufficient to justify Mr. Ogden’s course at the Dalles and at Wallawalla.

Doctor Saffron tells us, under oath, “On Mr. Ogden’s arrival, we stated to him these things,” about the massacre, the priests, McBean, and the Indians threatening, which Mr. Ogden admits in his letter to Mr. Walker, when he advised them to leave. He then proceeds on up the river, and does a thing which Sir James says was common, which we know Mr. Douglas has said to us was not common, for the company to give ammunition to the Indians for making those portages.